A familiar spot in suburban Battlefield, Alishan Tandoori has been delighting locals for over 25 years. After passing between two huge fish tanks that keep takeaway customers largely out of view of the small dining space, diners can flick through pages of familiar Indian and Pakistani dishes, along with some intriguing house specialities. The menu contains fascinating descriptions of many dishes, which help make decisions on what to choose. From familiar starters, the egg and mushroom puri is a good example of this popular appetizer. More interesting is a spicy mulligatawny soup, dense with meat, lentils and vegetables. The range of mains is mind-boggling, but some do stand out. Co-owner Chico’s choices include a thick maha masala with chicken tikka and minced lamb in a ginger-infused sauce that includes the interesting addition of sweetcorn, nicely balancing the heat. The masalandar range is vibrant to the eye, and sweet and sour on the palate. Alishan gets the basics spot on, and that’s one of the reasons customers keep on coming back; the friendly, helpful staff is another.